Approved at State Convention May 1999; as amended at the State Convention April 2001 and 2004; by the State Central Committee October 2005; at the State Convention April 2006, April 2010, March 2012, April 2013, by the State Central Committee February 2014 and February 21st, 2015; at the State Convention April 2015 and April 23rd 2016; by the State Central Committee February 18th 2017; at the State Convention May 6th 2017.

ARTICLE I – NAME, IDENTITY, STRUCTURE, FUNCTION

Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Indiana, hereinafter referred to as the LPIN.

Section 2. Structure. The LPIN is a political organization constituted by its membership, governed by the Annual Business Meeting at its State Convention, responsive to its affiliated County Organizations, and directed by its State Central Committee according to these by-laws.

Section 3. Bona Fide Party. The LPIN is a bona fide political party under the laws of the state of Indiana, and as such is authorized to receive political contributions. The LPIN accepts political contributions in the name of the LPIN or the Libertarian Party of Indiana.

Section 4. Functions. The primary functions of the LPIN are to: (a) nominate and run candidates for statewide, state legislative and U.S. Congressional offices in the state of Indiana, (b) serve as an affiliate organization of the national Libertarian Party, and (c) charter and serve the needs of affiliated County Organizations throughout the state of Indiana.

Section 5. Device. The office device of the LPIN and all candidates nominated by the LPIN or its affiliated County Organizations shall be a monochrome silhouette of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol which is also known as Lady Liberty.

Section 6. Address. The mailing address of the LPIN shall be as designated by the State Central Committee.

ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES

Section 1. Purpose. The primary purpose of the LPIN is to promote individual liberty and to eliminate the intervention of government in moral, social and economic affairs.

Section 2. Principles. The LPIN affirms the following principles:

That all people possess certain unalienable natural rights, and that among these are rights to life, liberty, justly acquired property, and self-governance.

That the only moral basis of government is the preservation and protection of unalienable natural rights.

That no person or institution, public or private, has the right to initiate the use of physical force or fraud against another person, and that all people are bound, without contract, to abstain from infringing upon the natural rights of other people.

That all people are entitled to choose their own lifestyles, as long as they do not forcibly impose their values on others.

That the voluntary and unrestricted exchange of goods and services is fundamental to a peaceful and harmonious society.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.Membership Requirements. Membership in the LPIN is open to all inhabitants in Indiana who contribute each year to the national Libertarian Party or the LPIN an amount equal to or greater than Twenty-Five Dollars. Payment of this contribution constitutes support for the Statement of Principles of the LPIN and/or the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party. Membership is also open to all inhabitants of Indiana with a lifetime membership in the national Libertarian Party. With the exception of said lifetime membership, membership in the LPIN is annual, and expires on the three hundred sixty-sixth (366th) day following the date of receipt of the inhabitant’s prior qualifying contribution.

Section 2. Membership Suspension. The State Central Committee shall have the authority to suspend, terminate or refuse any membership in the LPIN by a three-fourths (3/4) vote. The State Central Committee shall immediately notify the individual by certified mail of the suspension, termination, or refusal, and the reasons for such, affording the individual the right to appeal to the State Central Committee at one of its next two meetings, or to appeal at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention. Upon such appeal, the State Central Committee or the Annual Business Meeting, as the case may be, may by majority vote reverse the suspension, termination or refusal of membership. Otherwise, the membership shall remain voided for a period of one year from the original three-fourths (3/4) vote, after which time the individual may re-apply for membership in the LPIN.

Section 3. Donor Status. Contributors to the Libertarian Party of Indiana may at their own request be considered Donors rather than Members. Donor status will be granted upon such request, regardless of the amount of yearly contribution. Donor status may be changed to Membership only at Donor’s request. Donor status does not imply support for a Statement of Principles, nor does it afford any Membership privileges.

ARTICLE IV – AFFILIATED COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS

Section 1. Chartering. The State Central Committee may charter affiliated County Organizations as provided for in this article. No more than one County Organization may be chartered in any one county.

Section 2. Purpose of County Organizations. Affiliated County Organizations shall be chartered for, but shall not be limited to, the following purposes: (a) nominating candidates for public office; (b) working to elect Libertarian candidates and promote Libertarian principles; and (c) selecting representatives or delegates to appropriate LPIN activities.

Section 3. Temporary County Chairperson. To secure a contact person around whom a County Organization may be formed, the State Central Committee may appoint one Libertarian Party of Indiana Member inhabiting a county which does not have a County Organization to take the position of Temporary County Chairperson of the county. The State Central Committee may appoint, replace or dismiss any Temporary Chairperson by majority vote. The temporary county chairperson will organize and conduct an organizing convention as allowed by the standing rules.

Section 4. Candidate Endorsement. No affiliated County Organizations shall endorse a candidate for statewide office who opposes a candidate that is nominated by the LPIN for such office.

Section 5. Reservation. Any decisions not forbidden to the County Organizations in these LPIN by-laws or by the Indiana Election Code shall be reserved to the County Organizations respectively, or to the individual Members of the LPIN.

ARTICLE V – STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS

Section 1. Membership Requirement. State Central Committee members must be LPIN members.

Section 2. Composition. Membership in the State Central Committee shall consist of four (4) Officers of the LPIN, one or more Directors appointed by the State Central Committee, and all District Members of the LPIN, one for each U.S. Congressional district within the state of Indiana and each elected in accordance with these by-laws.

Section 3. Purpose. The purpose of the State Central Committee is to control and manage all of the affairs and properties of the LPIN between State Conventions, consistent with these by-laws and the policies established at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention.

Section 4. Responsibility. The State Central Committee shall have the sole responsibility for chartering affiliated County Organizations; approving applications for membership in the LPIN; calling conventions; resolving matters of succession of officers; dealing with members and affiliate County Organizations who are not true to the principles enumerated herein, and arranging, promoting and producing an annual State Convention.

Section 5. Officers.

Four Officers. The Officers of the LPIN shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. No offices shall be combined.

Election of Officers. During odd-numbered years the Officers of the State Central Committee shall be elected at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention. The Officer for any race shall be chosen by majority vote of secret ballots. If there is only one nomination for the office the election may be made by acclamation. If no candidate has attained a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes and any candidates with less than 5% shall be struck from subsequent ballots. This procedure shall be repeated after every ballot in which no candidate has received a majority vote, until one candidate attains a majority. None of the above shall always be an option on these ballots. Officers shall take office upon the close of the State Convention and serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next State Convention held during an odd-numbered year.

Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the head of the LPIN, presiding over all meetings of the party, its state conventions and business meetings, and meetings of the State Central Committee. The Chairperson is the official spokesperson for the LPIN, subject to the dictates of the State Central Committee. The Chairperson or the State Central Committee may appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to conduct the business of the LPIN and its meetings.

Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the Chairperson; shall be responsible for the committee work of the LPIN; shall represent the committees at State Central Committee meetings; and shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

Secretary. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the Annual Business Meeting and all meetings of the State Central Committee. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the minutes of all meetings, correspondence, committee reports, any standing rules, Petitions for Affiliation from affiliated County Organizations, and these by-laws and amendments.

Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds, receiving and disposing of the funds at the discretion of the State Central Committee and subject to any standing rules. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer responsible for the filing of all campaign finance forms for the LPIN. The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for maintaining an LPIN mailing list, including a list of Members of the LPIN, as well as the responsibility of notifying Members of the forthcoming expiration of their membership and seeking their renewal. The Treasurer shall appoint an Assistant Treasurer for help with assigned duties. Appointee shall serve until a replacement is appointed and may be removed or replaced by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the State Central Committee. The fiscal year of the LPIN shall begin on January 1st of each year and end on December 31st of the same year.

Removal of Officers. Officers may be removed from the State Central Committee by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the current State Central Committee. Directors may be removed from the State Central Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the current State Central Committee.

Vacancies. The State Central Committee shall fill all vacancies of Officers and Directors by appointment. In event of dismissal, removal or resignation of any Officer or Director, the State Central Committee shall notify all Chairpersons of affiliated County Organizations of the vacancy. Such notification shall occur at least ten (10) days before the vacancy is filled.

Section 6. Directors of the State Central Committee.

The Officers and District Members on the State Central Committee may appoint Directors to the State Central Committee. Each appointment shall be by resolution and requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Central Committee for approval. A Director shall serve until the next election of Officers of the LPIN unless removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Central Committee. The resolution of appointment for each Director shall include a functional title and shall specify the responsibilities of the directorship. Directors may be paid and/or be granted voting rights at the discretion of two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Central Committee.

Section 7. District Members of the State Central Committee.

Election. District Members on the State Central Committee shall be elected by majority vote of District Committees of the LPIN.

District Committees. District Committees are established within each U.S. Congressional district in the state of Indiana for the purpose of electing District Members to the State Central Committee. Each District Committee shall be composed of all Chairpersons of County Organizations which each have representation within that U.S. Congressional district by the plurality of the county’s voters. County Chairpersons may vote on only one District Committee, determined according to the Congressional district in which the plurality of voters in a county live. Each District Committee will be chaired by the Chairperson of the County Organization from the county within said district with the largest number of Members of the LPIN, who shall be responsible to call all meetings. Each District Committee shall meet at least one time each calendar year to elect its District Member to the State Central Committee. A quorum at any District Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of voting members of the District Committee. The District Member shall be a member of the LPIN and shall reside within the particular U.S. Congressional District. The District Member may be a County Chairperson, but it is not required.

Appointment by Chairperson. In the event that the District Committee does not elect a District Member for the State Central Committee prior to the end of the Annual Business Meeting, the Chairperson of the LPIN may appoint the District Member with three-fourths (3/4) approval of the State Central Committee.

Section 8. Meetings of the State Central Committee.

Meetings. The State Central Committee shall meet at such date, time and location as directed by the Chairperson, or by request of one-third (1/3) of the members of the State Central Committee, but in any event at least one in-person business meeting will be held within forty-five (45) days after the State Convention and at least once each quarter.

Electronic Meetings. The State Central Committee may conduct business other than by-law amendments by electronic means when scheduled by the Chair, or by request of three committee members. A minimum 48 hour notice via e-mail will be provided SCC members. Quorum will be met with 50% of the SCC members participating. Roll call voting may be used. Should roll call votes not meet the minimum number of votes required an e-mail vote request of the absent SCC members may be conducted in the following manner; the Secretary, or acting Secretary from the electronic meeting, shall e-mail motions made during the electronic meeting within 24 hours, to all absent SCC members. A response of aye, nay or abstain will be accepted. The period for voting on a motion shall remain open for a minimum of seven days or until votes cast determine the pass/fail status.

Notice of Meetings. Notice of quarterly meeting dates, times and locations shall be posted on the official LPIN webpage and be e-mailed to all County Chairs and SCC members whose e-mail addresses are known no less than 30 days prior to each quarterly meeting date. All meetings of the State Central Committee shall be open to observation by Members of the LPIN.

Quorum. A quorum shall consist of five of its voting members, with two of those five being Officers. Once quorum is met at quarterly meetings with in-person attendance, additional SCC members may participate via electronic means defined in the rules as if present in-person.

Stand-In Proxy. A District Member, but not an Officer or Director, of the State Central Committee may appoint a Stand-In Proxy to attend, participate and vote on such District Member’s behalf at a State Central Committee meeting, provided that the Chairperson of the LPIN is given advance notice of such appointment prior to the meeting’s Call to Order and provided that such Stand-In Proxy is an LPIN member from the District who is not a member of the Central Committee.

Majority Vote. A majority vote of the members of the State Central Committee shall prevail in all questions before it except those otherwise specified herein.

Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order as most recently revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters not covered by these by-laws.

Section 9. Annual Conventions.

Notice. The State Central Committee shall publish to all Members of the LPIN the dates of the Annual Business Meeting and State Convention no later than the Central Committee meeting that is held in the third quarter of the preceding year, and the times, locations, proposed rules, and proposed agenda of the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention at least forty-five (45) days before the date of the State Convention, and shall be responsible to plan and produce the State Convention.

Credentials Committee. The State Central Committee shall appoint a Credentials Committee to verify the membership of all Members of the LPIN attending the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention and of all Delegates at said Annual Business Meeting.

Section 10. Standing Rules. The Standing Rules of the LPIN shall be in harmony with these by-laws, shall be written, and shall be made available for general use. Standing rules may be adopted by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the State Central Committee, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at convention. Standing Rules may be repealed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Central Committee, or by a majority vote at convention.

Section 11. Authority of Contract. No one shall have the authority to contract for goods or services on behalf of the LPIN without prior written approval of the State Central Committee.

Section 12. Deadlines. Unless otherwise provided, all deadlines set by these Bylaws or Standing Rules shall be 11:59 PM Eastern Time of the day in question.

ARTICLE VI – CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual State Convention. The LPIN shall hold a State Convention during the second quarter of each calendar year. The agenda and format of the annual business meeting will be conducted according to the standing rules.

Section 2. Annual Business Meeting. The State Convention will include the Annual Business Meeting. The Annual Business Meeting shall be used to elect Officers of the LPIN; nominate candidates; elect Delegates and Alternate Delegates to national Libertarian Party conventions; amend these by-laws; take action on matters placed on the meeting’s agenda; formulate policy; adopt or amend standing rules and platform planks; receive and/or act upon reports; report on the business affairs of the LPIN; and exercise all other lawful powers not specifically delegated to the Officers or the State Central Committee by these by-laws.

Section 3. Attendance and Participation. Attendance at the Annual Business Meeting is open to all and free-of-charge. The State Central Committee may charge a fee for other State Convention activities and services. Only Delegates to the Annual Business Meeting may speak and vote at the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 4. Quorum. A quorum of the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention shall be met with a minimum of (35) thirty-five seated delegates in attendance who represent a minimum of 10 different counties.

Section 5. Nomination of Candidates. The Annual Business Meeting shall nominate candidates for statewide races, state legislative races, and U.S. Congressional district races. Any candidate so nominated must be a current member of the Libertarian Party of Indiana as defined in Article III, Section 2 of these by-laws.

Section 6. Delegates to National Committees. When the LPIN is notified by the national Libertarian Party of entitlement to national Libertarian Party committee- and subcommittee-delegates, the Chairperson shall cause their election at the Annual Business Meeting. Nominations for each position will be taken from the floor and must be seconded. The Member of the LPIN receiving the highest number of Delegate votes in each race shall be selected the committee delegate.

Section 7. Special Conventions and Special Business Meetings. Special Conventions and Special Business Meetings may be convened by State Central Committee on its own initiative, or shall be convened by the State Central Committee upon written request or petition of over one-quarter (1/4) of all current Members of the LPIN. The State Central Committee shall provide notice of the dates, times, and location of Special Convention and Special Business Meetings to all Members of the LPIN at least fifteen (15) days prior to the events. Notice shall also set forth the subjects to be considered at such Special Conventions and Special Business Meetings. Such Special Conventions and Special Business Meetings shall otherwise be run in accordance with, and have the same authority as that set forth in, these by-laws for the annual State Convention and Annual Business Meeting.

ARTICLE VII – ADOPTION, AMENDMENTS, STANDING RULES

Section 1. Adoption of By-laws. These by-laws shall be adopted when approved by a majority of the Delegates attending an Annual Business Meeting at a State Convention. These by-laws shall take effect on the first Monday following their approval.

Section 2. Amendment of By-laws. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a State Convention. These by-laws may also be amended at a State Central Committee meeting by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of all Members of the State Central Committee. Every amendment shall take effect on the first Monday following the enactment.

Section 3. Standing Rules.

Standing Rules may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority vote of the entire membership at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership of the State Central Committee. The Standing Rules of the LPIN shall be in harmony with these by-laws, shall be written, and shall be made available for general use by the membership.

Ballot Access Fund

Paid for by the Libertarian Party of Indiana. www.lpin.org Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Contributions to LPIN are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Funds received in response to this solicitation are subject to Indiana limits. Indiana law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $99.99 in a calendar year. Contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited. The LPIN does not give advice on federal or state campaign finance law. If you are unsure about applicable campaign finance law, please consult your lawyer for advice.